Baseball memoir a perfect book for summertime reading

Doug Williams co-writes book about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League

Elizabeth Macfarlane, #HRBooks Contributor

What a great time of year to read "Summertime Dreams: Yes—Girls Can Play Baseball," a memoir by professional women's baseball player Dolly Niemiec Konwinski, written with local resident Douglas Williams.

In the 143 years since America started its professional baseball league, only 12 of those years included a league with women players. The All American Girls Professional Baseball League was started during World War II by Philip K. Wrigley who wanted to keep the game of baseball going during the war. With the lack of available men to play, professional baseball was opened up to women. Though the league did not last, it is an important part of baseball history and Konwinski was a part of that history.

By reading her story, we get a taste of the time period and the rare experience that Konwinski had in being a professional female baseball player. We are also reminded what hard work and determination can do. Her story also shows us what we can do when faced with tragedy.

Konwinski is an example of moving forward and going on when faced with the problems and tragedies of life.

Besides playing professional baseball, this wife and mother of four wore many hats throughout her life. She played on a professional bowling team and also gave bowling lessons. She worked as a coach as well as an umpire for the game she loved so much.

Konwinski's life was full of work, dreams, family, fun and lots of love.

"Summertime Dreams" was published by AuthorHouse in December 2013. It is available at major online retailers in print and eBook for about $13 and $4, respectively.